Oconee County Commission, In Split Vote, Decided To Move Forward With Calls Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners, in a 3-1 vote Tuesday night, agreed to spend $13.4 million to upgrade the Calls Creek wastewater treatment plant to 1.5 million gallons per day and prepare the plant for possible future upgrade to 3.0 million gallons per day.

Oconee County Utility Department Director Wayne Haynie argued that the county would save money in the long-run if it spent a $1.1 million “premium” on the plant now so that the county would have the option of upgrading the plant to 3 million gallons per day in the future.

Commissioner Chuck Horton told Haynie he supported the 1.5 million gallons per day upgrade but wanted to limit the size of the plant on that site to that size.

Commissioner Mark Thomas initially spoke about limiting the existing plant to 1.5 million gallons per day, but in the end only Horton voted against the expenditure of $13.4 million.

Construction on the plant is expected to be completed in 12 to 18 months once construction starts.

For details of the story, go to Oconee County Observations.

Pictured: Commissioner Chuck Horton.